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Is this a good buy?

Hi guys,Do you guys think this is a good buy? It is a Meade ETX125EC in brand new condition. Comes with Autostar 497 and tripod and whatever comes from the manufacturer. He wants $450 for it. What do you guys think?

Depends on the mount. On the original plastic mount, no. Suppose it's fair enough on the later aluminum alloy mount. The latter is sheathed in plastic, but if you spin off the Alt clutch and setting circle disc you can see if if there's alloy under the plastic.

Not bad for an ETX-125 in good condition with a #497 controller and a #884 field tripod. The true value is a personal choice; do you up end up with a scope that you like at a price that you can afford. If you do then the objective was met.

I went to check it out..it's new but the EPs and view finder were dusty from the scope being out. It has autostar 497 that was never been taken out the box, hand controller, but the tripod is a #883. Optics looks good but I saw a small fingerprint smudge on it

I would not consider buying a scope unless the owner is willing to set it up for you and do all of the calibrations and setups for auto align and tracking. Have the scope automatically find and track a know object for 5 minutes. How well does it remain centered?

And keep in mind: Meade will not provide ANY support for the scope--zero, zip, zilch. For a couple of hundred or so, OK...for more, especially without confirming everything works under the stars? Hail no.

Like most high tech gear, run it through its paces and make sure everything works. These things tend to die right away or they live forever. If the lack of tech support is a concern I'd seriously consider a Dob (economical and low tech). With an #883 tripod the value of this partucular offer goes from good to eh in my book, I'm not a huge fan of the #883.